Long-held assumptions and beliefs about health, risk, behavior change, motivation, and engagement — subjects on which Dr. Strecher has been writing and speaking for years — are reconsidered. This presentation takes a journey through ancient and modern philosophy, literature, psychology, genetics, neuroscience, and Egyptology, where you will be introduced to an unlikely role model: a six-legged superhero with a unique relationship to a ball of excrement. In the presentation, Dr. Strecher will also demonstrate a platform of multimedia strategies designed to help people make quantum, meaningful, and fully engaged changes in their lives.

1. A book...

2. “A beautifully drawn story of the rediscovery of life. Julia’s gift to Vic is both deeply personal and
universally human.”
—Steve W. Cole, Vice President, Research & Development, HopeLab
ON PURPOSE
“Stunningly brilliant integration of creative storytelling and scientific research. Vic has
courageously mined an unthinkable personal tragedy to illustrate powerful insights into the
meaning of life, death, suffering and most importantly, personal growth and well being. This is
a must read for anyone seeking more depth and meaning in life. It is provocative, authentic,
and deeply moving.”
—Jim Loehr, co-founder, Human Performance Institute and author of
The Power of Story and The Only Way to Win
ON PURPOSE
L E S S O N S I N L I F E A N D H E A LT H F R O M
THE FROG, THE DUNG BEETLE, AND JULIA
“On Purpose is unique. It looks like a big comic book to me, but it describes concepts that took me
decades to understand, and it presents them in the context of a true story that touched my heart.”
—Michael P. O’Donnell, Editor in Chief,
American Journal of Health Promotion
VICTOR J. STRECHER, PhD
“This book is at least three amazing, unprecedented things at once: It is a heartfelt and moving
story, told in a wholly new and captivating way. It is the first and best distillation of this powerful
new science of purpose, giving new authority and clarity to an important new discipline. And it
launches a new movement in personal potential, giving each of us new ways to pursue our
lives. There’s nobody on earth who could pull something like this off, except for Vic Strecher.”
—Thomas Goetz, author of The Decision Tree and The Remedy and former
Executive Editor, Wired
“This work is a gift for us all to savor. I found myself coming back to it again and again, each time
digesting new layers and richness. In new ways an old story reemerges…we see our own
souls through Vic’s eyes, and through them, his spirit and humanity. Read and re-read this
book…enjoy its revelations and be transformed.”
—David B. Abrams, Executive Director, The Schroeder Institute for Tobacco
Research and Policy Studies. Professor, Department of Health, Behavior and
Society. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
“How refreshing to have spiritual truths and helpful life lessons delivered in a graphic novel! The
artistry of On Purpose--both written and drawn--are beautiful and profound.”
—Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow
and co-founder of Omega Institute
VICTOR J. STRECHER, PhD
$34.95
ISBN 978-1-940594-00-2
53495>
9 781940 594002
Illustrated by Kody Chamberlain
Foreword by Dean Ornish, MD

12. A day in the life of a male dung beetle goes something like this:
Fly to a heap of dung, sculpt a clump of it into a large ball, then
roll the ball away from the pile as fast as possible. However, it
turns out that the beetles, who work at night, need some sort of
compass to prevent them from rolling around in circles. New
research in Current Biology suggests that the insects use
starlight to guide their way. Birds, seals, and humans also use
starlight to navigate, but this is the first time it's been shown in an
insect.
The whole point of rolling dung is to impress the female beetle
with provisions—i.e., excrement—for her future progeny and
entice her to mate. She then lays an egg in the ball and buries it
in a network of tunnels more than a meter deep, where it serves
as food for the developing larvae inside.
But rolling dung balls in a straight line is also key to the male
dung beetle's reproductive success. Rival males have been
known to overtake a slower moving insect and claim the hardearned treasure as their own. Competition is fiercest near the
dung heap, so making a quick and efficient getaway is crucial for
mating success.
The discovery that dung beetles use starlight "was an accident
more than anything," explains study author Eric Warrant,
professor of zoology at the Lund University in Sweden. His
research group was studying how the beetles used the polarized
light patterns of the moon to stay on their paths, when one
moonless night they made a surprising observation—the beetles
maintained straight trajectories. "Even without the moon—just
with the stars—they were still able to navigate," Warrant says.
"We were just flabbergasted."

16. Winston
ON PURPOSE
L E S S O N S I N L I F E A N D H E A LT H F R O M
THE FROG, THE DUNG BEETLE, AND JULIA
VICTOR J. STRECHER, PhD
Illustrated by Kody Chamberlain
Foreword by Dean Ornish, MD

20. Purpose in life
1. I have a sense of direction and purpose in life.
2. Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them.

21. What’s YOUR purpose in life?

22. “To support my son and grandsons so they
live full lives. Grandsons are autistic.”

23. “Help others understand and learn how things work.”

24. “To enjoy researching and creating
garments for historic dance and sharing
this with others.”

25. “Be ready for someone when they need me.
Because I’ve had so much help and love
from other people when I needed them!”

39. Behavior
Condition
Morbidity
Mortality
Obesity
Activity
Stress Mgt
Nutrition
Smoking
Sleep
Hypertension
COPD
Cholesterol
CAD
Pain
CHF
Depression
Stroke
Back
Cancer
Diabetes
DEATH

40. Life
Wellness
Behavior
Condition
Morbidity
Mortality
Obesity
Activity
Stress Mgt
PURPOSE
Energy
Nutrition
Smoking
Sleep
Hypertension
COPD
Cholesterol
CAD
Pain
CHF
Depression
Stroke
Back
Cancer
Diabetes
DEATH

41. Life
Wellness
Behavior
Condition
Morbidity
Mortality
Obesity
Sleep
Presence
PURPOSE
Energy
Activity
Creativity
Eating
Hypertension
COPD
Cholesterol
CAD
Pain
CHF
Depression
Stroke
Back
Cancer
Diabetes
DEATH

55. On Purpose
A NEW DIRECTION FOR HEALTHRELATED BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Victor J. Strecher, PhD, MPH
Professor, University of Michigan School of Public Health
email: strecher@umich.edu
twitter: Vic Strecher@dungbeetlepress